I've always struggled with fear of rejection. Part of it comes from eight long years of middle and high school feeling like an outcast.
But overcoming the fear of rejection is more than having a place saved for you at the lunch table. More than hearing the words, "Katie, we'd love for you to live in our apartment." More than, "Will you go to the dance with me?"
It also involves a graduate school saying, "We see potential in her and want to grow her." It's an employer saying, "We want her on our team!" It's someone, anyone, saying "I believe in you."
Fear of rejection is still very real in my life, even if my name is shouted joyously when I enter the caf. It still has a bigger hold than I'd care to admit, a bigger hold than I thought it did six months ago.
But in Christ I've found someone who says, "I believe in you." I've found acceptance. And it comes from the Creator of the Universe. What more can one want?
Maybe I don't know what comes after China, but I am slowly learning to say, "It's going to be alright." And do you know why?
Because God IS good. ALL the time.
Even when it's hard to believe. Even when you get seven rejections in five months. Even when the world says, "She's not good enough." Even when you're alone at the lunch table.
Showing posts with label caf. Show all posts
Showing posts with label caf. Show all posts
Friday, July 15, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Light Your World
It was somewhere between 11:30pm and midnight. I turned off the light and began the stringray shuffle towards my bed. About 3/4 of the way there I stopped, contemplating a Lambeau Leap into bed just to entertain Jennifer. Jennifer! I turned around and shuffled back towards the blinking light switch. As soon as I hit it, my roommate Jennifer and I doubled over in laughter.
Well, I doubled over; she almost fell out of bed. It wasn't really that funny, but we laughed until our stomachs hurt. Everything's funnier in the middle of the night, right?
She had been reading when I walked in from the bathroom, turned off the light, and headed to bed.
Here's the kicker: I totally knew she was reading and turned out the light without thinking anything of it!
Here's the second kicker: She didn't say anything!
I guess you had to be there. We laughed until we couldn't breathe. That could be hazardous to your health.
You know what else could be hazardous to your health? Absent-mindedly going through life. Turning off the light before you get into bed despite the fact that your roommate is reading. Making it your goal to get from Point A to Point B as fast as you can without noticing the people you pass on your way. Every day counting down until the next day when you can sleep in.
I consider myself pretty observant and friendly. I noticed Jen was reading. I wave to snowplow drivers. I address people by name when I pass them on campus.
But get me in the caf and I am in a zone! Sure, I'll talk if I'm in line, but most people tell me they saw me in the caf but I looked like I was in a hurry, so they didn't say hi. In the caf, sometimes I don't acknowledge people until they call my name. Clueless.
What if we took the time to notice the other people in the caf? Instead of just seeing bodies in between us and the milk, what if we saw the faces of God's children? What if we actually payed attention to what we were doing rather than doing it half-heartedly or rush?
What if we left the light on for someone?
What if we cared?
<>< Katie
Well, I doubled over; she almost fell out of bed. It wasn't really that funny, but we laughed until our stomachs hurt. Everything's funnier in the middle of the night, right?
She had been reading when I walked in from the bathroom, turned off the light, and headed to bed.
Here's the kicker: I totally knew she was reading and turned out the light without thinking anything of it!
Here's the second kicker: She didn't say anything!
I guess you had to be there. We laughed until we couldn't breathe. That could be hazardous to your health.
You know what else could be hazardous to your health? Absent-mindedly going through life. Turning off the light before you get into bed despite the fact that your roommate is reading. Making it your goal to get from Point A to Point B as fast as you can without noticing the people you pass on your way. Every day counting down until the next day when you can sleep in.
I consider myself pretty observant and friendly. I noticed Jen was reading. I wave to snowplow drivers. I address people by name when I pass them on campus.
But get me in the caf and I am in a zone! Sure, I'll talk if I'm in line, but most people tell me they saw me in the caf but I looked like I was in a hurry, so they didn't say hi. In the caf, sometimes I don't acknowledge people until they call my name. Clueless.
What if we took the time to notice the other people in the caf? Instead of just seeing bodies in between us and the milk, what if we saw the faces of God's children? What if we actually payed attention to what we were doing rather than doing it half-heartedly or rush?
What if we left the light on for someone?
What if we cared?
<>< Katie
Thursday, November 4, 2010
GIGATT
My heart was not in the right place last night. It was one of those days where all of the little things add up and get to you until the smallest thing causes a waterfall. Someone asks you what's wrong and you can't come up a reason worth crying.
Sure, your unreliable internet spent more time in the "cannot connect" phase than the "connected" phase, but that's not worth crying over. Your laundry was disrespected in the community laundry room, but that's a perk of college life. Today's caf food and your stomach are having an argument, but it will work itself out eventually. A playful sass from your suitemates crossed the invisible line, but that's all (supposedly) backed with love. And you ran out of blaze orange notecards before you were done making notes. But none of those seem to justify the tears.
"Can't one thing just go right please, Lord," I said out loud, much to the chagrin of my sleeping roommate.
I walked into the bathroom to take out my contacts before they were permanently glued to my watery eyes. A drying shirt slung over the shower curtain caught my eye. Big white letters on a black shirt.
I bought this Peder Eide shirt to wear on days where things aren't going too well just so people ask me what my shirt says. Telling them, "God is good all the time" is a great reminder for myself, too.
GIGATT, friends, ATTGIG,
<>< Katie
Sure, your unreliable internet spent more time in the "cannot connect" phase than the "connected" phase, but that's not worth crying over. Your laundry was disrespected in the community laundry room, but that's a perk of college life. Today's caf food and your stomach are having an argument, but it will work itself out eventually. A playful sass from your suitemates crossed the invisible line, but that's all (supposedly) backed with love. And you ran out of blaze orange notecards before you were done making notes. But none of those seem to justify the tears.
"Can't one thing just go right please, Lord," I said out loud, much to the chagrin of my sleeping roommate.
I walked into the bathroom to take out my contacts before they were permanently glued to my watery eyes. A drying shirt slung over the shower curtain caught my eye. Big white letters on a black shirt.
GIGATT
It was as if Andy's bouncy ball hit me in the face.God is Good.
All The Time
Thanks. I needed that.I bought this Peder Eide shirt to wear on days where things aren't going too well just so people ask me what my shirt says. Telling them, "God is good all the time" is a great reminder for myself, too.
GIGATT, friends, ATTGIG,
<>< Katie
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Lunch with a Stranger
It was a little after 1, and I had somewhere to be at 1:30 and lunch to eat first when I flew into the caf. I got my food and had resolved myself to sit alone, something I actually enjoy doing periodically. I still don't know how I saw her since she was behind me, around the corner, and hidden by the crowd, but I did. She, too, was sitting alone. I walked up and slid my tray onto the table.
"Can I sit here?"
She had food in her mouth but nodded, and I told her I'd be right back. I dropped my bag, left my tray, and went to get my milk. I came back, sat down, prayed the Common Table Prayer, and asked her name. Marta. I recognized it from working check-in that morning. She was a transfer student; it was her first day on campus. I asked how it was going.
As she talked, slowly the tears welled in her eyes. They matched the ones I had been sporting earlier. Sometime between my golf-cart ride to McDonalds with Megan after check-in and this lunch, I discovered the job I had last year was no longer available to me. It was a complicated situation, and I was the victim of the system. I was confused. Upset. Frustrated. Livid. I cried. I called my dad. I cried again. I had a plan: talk to my boss, but I couldn't do that until I knew I was not going to melt in his office.
With a compassionate smile, I asked Marta how many times she had gotten lost that day. Lots. She'd lost her map. She laughed. I laughed. She cried. I cared. By the end of lunch, I had gotten her two new maps. Each had her apartment building circled, the building where her nursing classes would be circled, and a big huge "F" over the building where the food was. What more does a person need, right? I walked her to where she needed to go, and we said goodbye.
I visited my favorite coffee shop to email my hippy boss. My internet's still spotty. "We have a problem," the email said. "When are you going to be in your office?"
Almost instantly he responded, "I'm here now; come on over."
I did. When I walked in, he asked how I was. I said I was cranky. He didn't understand: worms were burrowing and he'd just gotten his iTouch to work after two years; how could I be cranky? Then I told him what happened to my job. He became distressed and no longer cared about the worms. He called his boss who called her boss who promised to work on the mess for me. The hippy told me it was just a matter of faith that the situation would work itself out. It was weird.
At dinner, I saw Marta again. I asked if the rest of her day had improved. She said it had. She even had a new friend! I was so excited for her I "woooh-who-ed" right there in the middle of the caf. I had intended to sit with them, but we got separated in the mob.
It's been four days since I've seen Marta. My job situation has been rectified. My boss's boss's boss, who has a big important title, made some phone calls, got me my job back, and earned himself a hand-written thank you card. I can only hope Marta has memorized her maps, made more than one friend, and is enjoying herself.
I think we both needed each other at that lunch. It was a simple exchange, a breach of the comfort zone, and a world gained. God's way to remind us that He is Jehovah-Jirah, the Lord provider.
<>< Katie
"Can I sit here?"
She had food in her mouth but nodded, and I told her I'd be right back. I dropped my bag, left my tray, and went to get my milk. I came back, sat down, prayed the Common Table Prayer, and asked her name. Marta. I recognized it from working check-in that morning. She was a transfer student; it was her first day on campus. I asked how it was going.
As she talked, slowly the tears welled in her eyes. They matched the ones I had been sporting earlier. Sometime between my golf-cart ride to McDonalds with Megan after check-in and this lunch, I discovered the job I had last year was no longer available to me. It was a complicated situation, and I was the victim of the system. I was confused. Upset. Frustrated. Livid. I cried. I called my dad. I cried again. I had a plan: talk to my boss, but I couldn't do that until I knew I was not going to melt in his office.
With a compassionate smile, I asked Marta how many times she had gotten lost that day. Lots. She'd lost her map. She laughed. I laughed. She cried. I cared. By the end of lunch, I had gotten her two new maps. Each had her apartment building circled, the building where her nursing classes would be circled, and a big huge "F" over the building where the food was. What more does a person need, right? I walked her to where she needed to go, and we said goodbye.
I visited my favorite coffee shop to email my hippy boss. My internet's still spotty. "We have a problem," the email said. "When are you going to be in your office?"
Almost instantly he responded, "I'm here now; come on over."
I did. When I walked in, he asked how I was. I said I was cranky. He didn't understand: worms were burrowing and he'd just gotten his iTouch to work after two years; how could I be cranky? Then I told him what happened to my job. He became distressed and no longer cared about the worms. He called his boss who called her boss who promised to work on the mess for me. The hippy told me it was just a matter of faith that the situation would work itself out. It was weird.
At dinner, I saw Marta again. I asked if the rest of her day had improved. She said it had. She even had a new friend! I was so excited for her I "woooh-who-ed" right there in the middle of the caf. I had intended to sit with them, but we got separated in the mob.
It's been four days since I've seen Marta. My job situation has been rectified. My boss's boss's boss, who has a big important title, made some phone calls, got me my job back, and earned himself a hand-written thank you card. I can only hope Marta has memorized her maps, made more than one friend, and is enjoying herself.
I think we both needed each other at that lunch. It was a simple exchange, a breach of the comfort zone, and a world gained. God's way to remind us that He is Jehovah-Jirah, the Lord provider.
<>< Katie
Friday, August 27, 2010
Tales of Nikki and Katie: The Episode of the Bike (Helmet)
In my family, when you turn double-digits, you get two big presents: a mountain bike and a bedroom set. It kind of worked that way for me and my parents kept the tradition for my sisters. So, on my tenth birthday we all hopped in the van and drove to the same bike shop where my mom and grandfather got their first adult bikes. I still remember the day. This must have been before my purple phase because I came home with a maroon bike that I absolutely loved and a red helmet I tolerated. I'm now twenty-one and that same bike came to college with me.
Nikki hates to walk everywhere from our middle-of-nowhere apartment, so I offered her the use of my bike. Problem: I'm tall; Nikki's not. We tried to find a seat-height that would satisfy both of us but couldn't. Finally we realized the seat moves very easily, a brand new feature back in 1999 when I bought my bike. When Nikki wanted to ride it, she could lower the seat. When I wanted to ride my bike, I could raise it. Very simple; very easy. I told her the code to my combination lock, and we were set.
A few days later, my bike was missing from our second-story porch because Nikki took me up on my offer. Except Nikki was in the living room.
Katie: Where's my bike?
Nikki: OH MY GOSH! Katie, you have the smallest seat in the world!
Katie: I have the smallest butt in the world.
Nikki: It's in my office. I rode it to work and go so fed up with it that I got a car ride back.
This was Friday meaning my bike was locked in there over the weekend. Not really a big deal. Nikki also conveniently wore a dress for the next several days meaning she couldn't ride my bike back.
Nikki: Next time you're up near the caf, swing by my office and pick up your bike because it might stay there all semester if you don't, and we really need the space back.
Katie: Yeah, I'll remember to take my helmet with me to the caf. That's not dorky.
Last fall, I crashed on my bike. My thoughts went something like this, "Road? Sidewalk? Road? Sidewalk? Road. Crap, speed bumps. Just kidding! Sidewalk."
I learned something very important: You can't do "just kidding" on a bike. Indecisiveness leads to skinned knees
Since I've always been very safety conscious and I have a history of bike crashes, I wear a red helmet when I ride my maroon bike. I also ski with a purple helmet and have been known to Wii Bowl in my ski helmet. Yes, everyone laughs at me. I've decided I'd rather be the dork with the helmet than the dork with the broken head.
When I did finally retrieve my bike from Nikki's office, I rode it down the hallway, on the sidewalk, through the grass, across the parking lot, up the hill, through the building, and up the stairs without a helmet. It was terrifying. And liberating.
When I told my mom this story, she laughed all the way through it. When I got to the "So I rescued my bike and rode it home without a helmet" part she said she was proud of me. Huh?!
And now I face a major decision: Helmet or no helmet? That is the question.
<>< Katie
Nikki hates to walk everywhere from our middle-of-nowhere apartment, so I offered her the use of my bike. Problem: I'm tall; Nikki's not. We tried to find a seat-height that would satisfy both of us but couldn't. Finally we realized the seat moves very easily, a brand new feature back in 1999 when I bought my bike. When Nikki wanted to ride it, she could lower the seat. When I wanted to ride my bike, I could raise it. Very simple; very easy. I told her the code to my combination lock, and we were set.
A few days later, my bike was missing from our second-story porch because Nikki took me up on my offer. Except Nikki was in the living room.
Katie: Where's my bike?
Nikki: OH MY GOSH! Katie, you have the smallest seat in the world!
Katie: I have the smallest butt in the world.
Nikki: It's in my office. I rode it to work and go so fed up with it that I got a car ride back.
This was Friday meaning my bike was locked in there over the weekend. Not really a big deal. Nikki also conveniently wore a dress for the next several days meaning she couldn't ride my bike back.
Nikki: Next time you're up near the caf, swing by my office and pick up your bike because it might stay there all semester if you don't, and we really need the space back.
Katie: Yeah, I'll remember to take my helmet with me to the caf. That's not dorky.
Last fall, I crashed on my bike. My thoughts went something like this, "Road? Sidewalk? Road? Sidewalk? Road. Crap, speed bumps. Just kidding! Sidewalk."
I learned something very important: You can't do "just kidding" on a bike. Indecisiveness leads to skinned knees
Since I've always been very safety conscious and I have a history of bike crashes, I wear a red helmet when I ride my maroon bike. I also ski with a purple helmet and have been known to Wii Bowl in my ski helmet. Yes, everyone laughs at me. I've decided I'd rather be the dork with the helmet than the dork with the broken head.
When I did finally retrieve my bike from Nikki's office, I rode it down the hallway, on the sidewalk, through the grass, across the parking lot, up the hill, through the building, and up the stairs without a helmet. It was terrifying. And liberating.
When I told my mom this story, she laughed all the way through it. When I got to the "So I rescued my bike and rode it home without a helmet" part she said she was proud of me. Huh?!
And now I face a major decision: Helmet or no helmet? That is the question.
<>< Katie
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Rainy Days
Yesterday morning I passed my FOCUS brother Jordan on his way to breakfast.
"Hey, how are you?" I asked giving him a hug. I knew the answer before he spoke.
"Not good. It's raining. I HATE the rain. Absolutely hate it more than anything else in the world. It's going to be a bad day," he explained. As someone whose mood is often dictated by the weather, I understood. Rainy days are often miserable but "hate" is a strong word.
"Do me a favor, try to find one thing good in today. Yeah, it's rainy and gross, but God still made today and therefore there must be one thing good in it," I coached. He kind of groaned, and we went our separate ways.
I don't see Jordan very often and was surprised when I saw him again at dinner. I asked him about his good thing for the day.
"I got a good grade on a test," he said proudly.
In the next few minutes we made a list of good things:
1. Good grade
2. He's alive and breathing
3. It's Friday
4. We saw each other twice
Not bad for someone who hates the rain more than anything! Sure, they're all pretty basic but they're still reasons to smile on a no good, very bad rainy day.
This morning, I saw him again and asked how he was doing.
"Today is much better. It's not raining today. My feet are dry!" His girlfriend and I teased him about getting some rainboats. Yeah, that idea didn't fly. Maybe dry feet was his good thing for today.
I think we all have days like Jordan where we know before breakfast that it's going to be a bad day. Rain, headaches, heavy backpacks, and nasty caf food make my days bad. Smiles and hugs from friends, cancelled classes, and blog comments make my days better.
I'd challenge you to do the same thing I often encourage myself to do and I suggested Jordan do: find one thing good in today. Even as simple and being grateful that you got out of bed this morning.
"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" - Psalm 118:24 (emphasis mine)
<>< Katie
"Hey, how are you?" I asked giving him a hug. I knew the answer before he spoke.
"Not good. It's raining. I HATE the rain. Absolutely hate it more than anything else in the world. It's going to be a bad day," he explained. As someone whose mood is often dictated by the weather, I understood. Rainy days are often miserable but "hate" is a strong word.
"Do me a favor, try to find one thing good in today. Yeah, it's rainy and gross, but God still made today and therefore there must be one thing good in it," I coached. He kind of groaned, and we went our separate ways.
I don't see Jordan very often and was surprised when I saw him again at dinner. I asked him about his good thing for the day.
"I got a good grade on a test," he said proudly.
In the next few minutes we made a list of good things:
1. Good grade
2. He's alive and breathing
3. It's Friday
4. We saw each other twice
Not bad for someone who hates the rain more than anything! Sure, they're all pretty basic but they're still reasons to smile on a no good, very bad rainy day.
This morning, I saw him again and asked how he was doing.
"Today is much better. It's not raining today. My feet are dry!" His girlfriend and I teased him about getting some rainboats. Yeah, that idea didn't fly. Maybe dry feet was his good thing for today.
I think we all have days like Jordan where we know before breakfast that it's going to be a bad day. Rain, headaches, heavy backpacks, and nasty caf food make my days bad. Smiles and hugs from friends, cancelled classes, and blog comments make my days better.
I'd challenge you to do the same thing I often encourage myself to do and I suggested Jordan do: find one thing good in today. Even as simple and being grateful that you got out of bed this morning.
"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" - Psalm 118:24 (emphasis mine)
<>< Katie
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Mishap of the Waffle Maker
This morning in the caf, where I failed to find a bagel, Spencer made a waffle. Or tried to make a waffle. Failed miserably at making a waffle may be more like it. His "waffle" (for lack of a better term) was in shambles on his plate.
"Are you still going to eat that?" Nikki asked a table over. There were only ten people in the whole caf, so it didn't really matter if we all had one conversation.
"Yeah," Spencer said with a smirk. After all, he'd taken the time to make the waffle, might as well eat it.
A few minutes into eating his breakfast, a caf woman walked all the way from the waffle maker to Spencer's table with a smile on her face and a plate in her hand. She put the perfect waffle in front of Spencer, picked up his waffle shambles, and discarded them.
It took her maybe thirty second to pour the waffle in the maker. I'm sure she didn't stand there and wait for it to be ready. Then it was done she spent a minute to successfully remove the completed food from the maker, walk it to Spencer, and take his garbage.
For her, it was two minutes. For Spencer, it was breakfast. For me, it was the opportunity to watch a random act of kindness.
I'd love to see more of them! (Especially with this new revival on campus)
<>< Katie
PS: Short enough? :-P
"Are you still going to eat that?" Nikki asked a table over. There were only ten people in the whole caf, so it didn't really matter if we all had one conversation.
"Yeah," Spencer said with a smirk. After all, he'd taken the time to make the waffle, might as well eat it.
A few minutes into eating his breakfast, a caf woman walked all the way from the waffle maker to Spencer's table with a smile on her face and a plate in her hand. She put the perfect waffle in front of Spencer, picked up his waffle shambles, and discarded them.
It took her maybe thirty second to pour the waffle in the maker. I'm sure she didn't stand there and wait for it to be ready. Then it was done she spent a minute to successfully remove the completed food from the maker, walk it to Spencer, and take his garbage.
For her, it was two minutes. For Spencer, it was breakfast. For me, it was the opportunity to watch a random act of kindness.
I'd love to see more of them! (Especially with this new revival on campus)
<>< Katie
PS: Short enough? :-P
Monday, February 1, 2010
Magnificent Microwave Meals
This morning, I hadn't even put in my contacts yet when my roommates started sassing me. "Have you blogged yet today?" "PLEASE blog about last night!" "Katie, you're such a slacker blogger!" "Tell your eleven readers what we did last night!" They just like to see their times in print. Sorry to disappoint, ladies, but I am not going to explain how we managed to "seat" eight people on the futon... in three different positions. Enjoy the photo saga on facebook instead because words cannot do justice to the laughter that filled our apartment around 1am this morning.
Since school was closed today no one really wanted to eat in the cafeteria. We knew we'd be on day number four of whatever they could scrounge up from the back room and the pickings from that back room were getting grim on day two! Breakfast/lunch is typically one meal for us and can be made in the apartment thanks to our random supply of items.
Dinner, on the other hand, is more of a challenge since we don't have an oven/stove. Gourmet microwave meals only go so far. Either way, we needed to face the "icy roads" on the mile and a half trek to the grocery store. The problem is that none of the girls in our apartment who (a) drive and (b) have a car felt comfortable making this treacherous voyage. They called upstairs for one of the guys to take us to the store. It was around that time that I announced I wasn't going; Elizabeth felt my participation in this escapade was not optional.
Then why are we finding a driver? Even though I don't enjoy driving, I was well over-qualified for this dangerous excursion on dry roads.
"Get in the car, girls," I said and was expecting a repeat from the other night. Lucky for me, the only useless question was, "Which car is yours?" Clearly the one with out-of-state plates and no snow on it because I'm the only one with a real snowscraper. Pray for me in this foreign country...
Our spontaneous dinner plans turned from microwave lasagna to raw hamburgers in .7 seconds. Our apartment is going to smell like grille forever! However, I accept that because we had a wonderful time making hamburgers, chip dip, macaroni and cheese, and cookies all without a stove! That takes skill.
Since school was closed today no one really wanted to eat in the cafeteria. We knew we'd be on day number four of whatever they could scrounge up from the back room and the pickings from that back room were getting grim on day two! Breakfast/lunch is typically one meal for us and can be made in the apartment thanks to our random supply of items.
Dinner, on the other hand, is more of a challenge since we don't have an oven/stove. Gourmet microwave meals only go so far. Either way, we needed to face the "icy roads" on the mile and a half trek to the grocery store. The problem is that none of the girls in our apartment who (a) drive and (b) have a car felt comfortable making this treacherous voyage. They called upstairs for one of the guys to take us to the store. It was around that time that I announced I wasn't going; Elizabeth felt my participation in this escapade was not optional.
Then why are we finding a driver? Even though I don't enjoy driving, I was well over-qualified for this dangerous excursion on dry roads.
"Get in the car, girls," I said and was expecting a repeat from the other night. Lucky for me, the only useless question was, "Which car is yours?" Clearly the one with out-of-state plates and no snow on it because I'm the only one with a real snowscraper. Pray for me in this foreign country...
Our spontaneous dinner plans turned from microwave lasagna to raw hamburgers in .7 seconds. Our apartment is going to smell like grille forever! However, I accept that because we had a wonderful time making hamburgers, chip dip, macaroni and cheese, and cookies all without a stove! That takes skill.
"This tastes like a homecooked meal," someone remarked.
Correction: This IS a homecooked meal.
Sitting on the floor with real plates on our laps, we thanked God and each other for this meal. Every single one of us was vital in the creation of our dinner. I braved the weather and drove to the store. Adam and Allyson cooked burgers. Nikki found us a George Forman (shhh! Don't tell!). Ryan provided real plates. Amy found the ketchup, and Elizabeth used her mad skills to make Mac & Cheese. No one of us could take the credit for our meal. It was a group effort.
Just like every one of us had a unique role in tonight's dinner, we each have our unique part in the Body of Christ. In Romans 12, Paul outlines this idea when he writes,
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Well done, ladies! (And gentlemen).
<>< Katie
PS: It has also come to my attention that Mr. Kassakatis has been spewing cruel words regarding my blog. This harsh criticism will not be taken personally for I realize Mr. Kassakatis is merely jealous that he cannot communicate as well as I do. I am truly sorry. (not so much).
Monday, January 25, 2010
Rushed Prayer
Katie
God
"Aloud"
For some unknown reason my friend Kevin thought it wise to tease me about updating my blog 3 to 4 times a day. First off, I have only updated three times in one day once (ok, maybe twice). Second, you should see some of the stuff I write and don't post! Third, blogging is the cool thing to do not having a blog and abandoning it for a month! Last yet most important, at least I didn't buy whitey tighties at Wal-mart while wearing a pink shirt...
Today's been a long day. I left my apartment 6 hours ago and haven't been back since. After this next meeting, I'll be able to run a back there for maybe an hour, leave for dinner, go back for another hour, and I have three hours of class tonight. It's been a busy day but this was perhaps my favorite fifteen minutes.
12:49
Prof, please let class out. I have to get lunch.
12:51
"Class dismissed."
Thank you! The race begins: you have nine minutes to get to the caf, find lunch, and get to the prayer room. Go!
12:54
Congratulations, you made it in the building. Six minutes. Good luck.
Please swipe cards faster, can't you tell I'm on a time limit here?
12:55
"Hi, Emily. Yes, I can do coffee tomorrow. Hi, Steven. I'm good, and you? Hola, Stephanie. Hey, Jeanie. What happened to your underwear, Quailman? Hi, Brittany. Hi, hi, hi..."
Gosh, darn it! Why do I have to be so friendly? Five minutes and an empty to-go box. Double time, Katie!
12:56
Pizza or rice? Pizza or rice? Who likes milk in a paper cup? Yuck! Do I want grape juice for breakfast and lunch? Well, milk is out, so grape juice it is. Please don't be out of grape juice. Do I want dessert? What do I want for dessert?
12:57
"Have a good day, Katie," David shouted across the caf. I looked up just long enough to wave to my normal lunch pals and give them a faint smile. Oh, how I wish I could stay to listen to Claire interpret David's argument to say married women are ugly. No time for that. Tight schedule.
12:58
Hey, Katie.
"What?" I asked aloud, my tone of voice really said, "In a rush, can't talk now." I was tripping up the back stairs of the chapel spilling grape juice up my straw and all over my face (don't ask me how that happened but it did).
I'll see be here when you get here.
Huh?
12:59
Flick off the shoes, I'm entering Holy Ground. Whew! I can breathe again! I made it: with one minute to spare.
1:01
Why'd you rush? I'm still here. Remember what we talked about in Guatemala about being late?
My campus is currently taking part in a 24/7 prayer campaign where we have someone praying for the campus and the world twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. I accidentally signed up for a time during my lunch hour instead of picking a time I was free (like now in the two o'clock hour). I'd encourage you to take some time out of your schedule today, this week and pray for your world. Your campus, your town, your state, your country, your world. It doesn't have to be an hour. You don't have to shove a pizza in your mouth as you pray, "Thank You, God, that I have food." But take a minute to pray today.
With love,
<>< Katie
God
"Aloud"
For some unknown reason my friend Kevin thought it wise to tease me about updating my blog 3 to 4 times a day. First off, I have only updated three times in one day once (ok, maybe twice). Second, you should see some of the stuff I write and don't post! Third, blogging is the cool thing to do not having a blog and abandoning it for a month! Last yet most important, at least I didn't buy whitey tighties at Wal-mart while wearing a pink shirt...
Today's been a long day. I left my apartment 6 hours ago and haven't been back since. After this next meeting, I'll be able to run a back there for maybe an hour, leave for dinner, go back for another hour, and I have three hours of class tonight. It's been a busy day but this was perhaps my favorite fifteen minutes.
12:49
Prof, please let class out. I have to get lunch.
12:51
"Class dismissed."
Thank you! The race begins: you have nine minutes to get to the caf, find lunch, and get to the prayer room. Go!
12:54
Congratulations, you made it in the building. Six minutes. Good luck.
Please swipe cards faster, can't you tell I'm on a time limit here?
12:55
"Hi, Emily. Yes, I can do coffee tomorrow. Hi, Steven. I'm good, and you? Hola, Stephanie. Hey, Jeanie. What happened to your underwear, Quailman? Hi, Brittany. Hi, hi, hi..."
Gosh, darn it! Why do I have to be so friendly? Five minutes and an empty to-go box. Double time, Katie!
12:56
Pizza or rice? Pizza or rice? Who likes milk in a paper cup? Yuck! Do I want grape juice for breakfast and lunch? Well, milk is out, so grape juice it is. Please don't be out of grape juice. Do I want dessert? What do I want for dessert?
12:57
"Have a good day, Katie," David shouted across the caf. I looked up just long enough to wave to my normal lunch pals and give them a faint smile. Oh, how I wish I could stay to listen to Claire interpret David's argument to say married women are ugly. No time for that. Tight schedule.
12:58
Hey, Katie.
"What?" I asked aloud, my tone of voice really said, "In a rush, can't talk now." I was tripping up the back stairs of the chapel spilling grape juice up my straw and all over my face (don't ask me how that happened but it did).
I'll see be here when you get here.
Huh?
12:59
Flick off the shoes, I'm entering Holy Ground. Whew! I can breathe again! I made it: with one minute to spare.
1:01
Why'd you rush? I'm still here. Remember what we talked about in Guatemala about being late?
My campus is currently taking part in a 24/7 prayer campaign where we have someone praying for the campus and the world twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. I accidentally signed up for a time during my lunch hour instead of picking a time I was free (like now in the two o'clock hour). I'd encourage you to take some time out of your schedule today, this week and pray for your world. Your campus, your town, your state, your country, your world. It doesn't have to be an hour. You don't have to shove a pizza in your mouth as you pray, "Thank You, God, that I have food." But take a minute to pray today.
With love,
<>< Katie
Friday, May 1, 2009
It Doesn't Matter
My friend Kevin and I happened to be in the cafeteria at the same time this morning, so we ate breakfast together (actually, I ate breakfast; he ate lunch). It was nice to have a relaxed conversation with a friend. At one point, the topic rolled to something that had been bothering me. Instead of letting me dwell on it, Kevin almost immediately changed the subject to make me feel better.
"Just put it aside, Katie."
"I can't."
"No, you need to. It doesn't matter."
"But it does."
"No, the only One it matters to has already made up His mind. And He isn't going to change it no matter how hard you try."
Simple yet to profound and perfect.
<>< Katie
"Just put it aside, Katie."
"I can't."
"No, you need to. It doesn't matter."
"But it does."
"No, the only One it matters to has already made up His mind. And He isn't going to change it no matter how hard you try."
Simple yet to profound and perfect.
<>< Katie
Thursday, October 30, 2008
A List of my Lists
I'm sitting in the caf with Amber minding our own business talking. All of the sudden someone walks by and flicks me in the head. Twice. I turn around quick and I see a tall guy with brown hair walking away from me. The guys who would possibly flick me in the head are few and far between and none of them look like that.
"Who was that?" I asked Amber.
"I don't know. All I know is that he just walked by, his hand disappeared into your hair, and he walked away," she responded laughing. (She actually though his finger went into my ear... which would have been really gross...)
I eventually recognized him as our campus minister who's leading my mission trip this spring break.
I contemplated to myself how to retaliate for such an absurd act. Later this afternoon I got an email from him about the trip. He has saved us a significant amount of money, and we're all super stoked about it. Couldn't he have told me that at lunch instead of poking me in the head?
In about two hours, he went from being on my "hit list" to my "favorite people for the day" list. Does God do that? Does He fluctuate between your, "I don't have enough time right now" list and your "I LOVE YOU!" list? Shouldn't He always been on the top of your list?
<>< Katie
"There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call--one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all." Ephesians 4:4-6
"Who was that?" I asked Amber.
"I don't know. All I know is that he just walked by, his hand disappeared into your hair, and he walked away," she responded laughing. (She actually though his finger went into my ear... which would have been really gross...)
I eventually recognized him as our campus minister who's leading my mission trip this spring break.
I contemplated to myself how to retaliate for such an absurd act. Later this afternoon I got an email from him about the trip. He has saved us a significant amount of money, and we're all super stoked about it. Couldn't he have told me that at lunch instead of poking me in the head?
In about two hours, he went from being on my "hit list" to my "favorite people for the day" list. Does God do that? Does He fluctuate between your, "I don't have enough time right now" list and your "I LOVE YOU!" list? Shouldn't He always been on the top of your list?
<>< Katie
"There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call--one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all." Ephesians 4:4-6
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Dinner
I had a very interesting dinner today, and I feel the need to share. :-)
At 5 o'clock, I headed towards the caf out of habit. I stopped in Laura and Becky's room (aka my other room). Laura wasn't there, and Becky was headed to Chic-fil-a. I was going to join her, but then realized I had to be back for CMU stuff, so I didn't go. I wandered to the caf figuring I'd meet up with someone or find some lonely person eating alone. I walk in, and see no one that fits that description. I got a plate of pasta and sat down by myself. I seriously knew NO ONE in the caf and no one was sitting by themselves... I really tried to be outgoing and it failed miserably!
I ate my pasta by myself and got a cookie. Really sitting alone wasn't that bad because I am an introvert and recharge by being by myself, and I was by the door so I got to greet people as they came in. I ate my cookie by myself and got a salad. I was a good majority of the way through my salad when my friend Xan came in and chewed me out for eating by myself. I told her I was almost done and it wasn't a big deal. Then my friend Annie came in a yelled at me for eating by myself. I told her I wasn't eating by myself, I was watching Monk, the news, and ESPN simultaneously. Then my friend Lauren came over and we chatting for awhile.
I had literally two bites left of my salad and Annie came back and forced me to her table. So I finished my salad, put my dishes up, and sat down with Annie and her friends. Annie was telling some story about how a church leader came up to her at the club fair today and invited her to his church. He asked her if she'd ever considered going to church which is really funny because Annie has Bible verses all over her dorm room and we met in small group last year. She finished the story and realized she hadn't prayed. She asked each of us individually if we'd already prayed and we all said yes. I told her I'd pray again with her. We teased around about who would pray and were just being silly. There was minimal praying getting done and my friend Tiffany walked up. I half-jokingly said, "Tiffany, will you pray with us?" She said sure and prayed for us. Then she walked away and Annie was like, "I really don't even know who that was."
I love Christ, sometimes the people He throws at me are just so amazing! The fact that some random person can just jump up and pray at dinner cracks me up!
In Christ,
<>< Katie
At 5 o'clock, I headed towards the caf out of habit. I stopped in Laura and Becky's room (aka my other room). Laura wasn't there, and Becky was headed to Chic-fil-a. I was going to join her, but then realized I had to be back for CMU stuff, so I didn't go. I wandered to the caf figuring I'd meet up with someone or find some lonely person eating alone. I walk in, and see no one that fits that description. I got a plate of pasta and sat down by myself. I seriously knew NO ONE in the caf and no one was sitting by themselves... I really tried to be outgoing and it failed miserably!
I ate my pasta by myself and got a cookie. Really sitting alone wasn't that bad because I am an introvert and recharge by being by myself, and I was by the door so I got to greet people as they came in. I ate my cookie by myself and got a salad. I was a good majority of the way through my salad when my friend Xan came in and chewed me out for eating by myself. I told her I was almost done and it wasn't a big deal. Then my friend Annie came in a yelled at me for eating by myself. I told her I wasn't eating by myself, I was watching Monk, the news, and ESPN simultaneously. Then my friend Lauren came over and we chatting for awhile.
I had literally two bites left of my salad and Annie came back and forced me to her table. So I finished my salad, put my dishes up, and sat down with Annie and her friends. Annie was telling some story about how a church leader came up to her at the club fair today and invited her to his church. He asked her if she'd ever considered going to church which is really funny because Annie has Bible verses all over her dorm room and we met in small group last year. She finished the story and realized she hadn't prayed. She asked each of us individually if we'd already prayed and we all said yes. I told her I'd pray again with her. We teased around about who would pray and were just being silly. There was minimal praying getting done and my friend Tiffany walked up. I half-jokingly said, "Tiffany, will you pray with us?" She said sure and prayed for us. Then she walked away and Annie was like, "I really don't even know who that was."
I love Christ, sometimes the people He throws at me are just so amazing! The fact that some random person can just jump up and pray at dinner cracks me up!
In Christ,
<>< Katie
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